How PERA Selects PERACare Carriers
Health care costs have been increasing across the country for years, and that’s especially true for a program like PERACare, which covers retirees and their families. Plans that cover a retired population often have higher costs because those patients tend to take more medications and use more medical services.
Every few years, PERA issues a Request for Proposal (RFP) in which we invite carriers to submit proposals for managing your health benefits. We ask companies to show us what services they offer, how they’ll support your needs, and at what cost. We then review those proposals, looking at things like plan premiums and copays, coverage levels, service history, and member satisfaction.
Using this information, we can then select carriers. We aim to offer a selection of plans that fit a variety of budgets, and we look for carriers that offer robust provider networks and prescription drug coverage.
Current Request for Proposal (RFP) Process
PERA’s RFP process is just getting underway for our non-Kaiser Medicare, Pre-Medicare, and Pharmacy Benefit Manager partners. The RFP process is lengthy, and we expect to spend several months analyzing data, interviewing bidders, and ultimately selecting carriers for 2027.
While premiums are of significant importance to PERA and our members, we also know changes to your health benefits can be challenging. An important part of selecting carriers is minimizing provider and medication disruptions for our members. We’ll share any carrier and plan changes before open enrollment begins in October so you can make an informed decision.
